Pengguna perihatin

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- Consumer associations have come out in strong support of a statement by Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad that the government might open the market for essential goods to prevent manipulation by traders and ensure supply and fair price.

They want the government to stabilise the price of goods and maintain control over stockpiles to protect consumers.

Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah said the move would create competition between local and foreign producers.

He said under the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA), Asean countries must open their market to member states and reduce tax.

"If the price of goods in Malaysia is high, the government can import from Asean countries at low prices. Producers in Malaysia must be prepared to compete and this will benefit consumers who will enjoy fair price," he told Bernama here Tuesday.

Monday, Shahrir had said the government would not hesitate to import essential goods to protect consumers.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Nordin said in opening the market, the government should also ensure that local producers, particularly Bumiputeras were protected.

"This is because, products by Bumiputeras find it difficult to compete in the open market because of the monopoly by the wholesale system and retail chain in the country," he added.

Real Estate and Housing Developer's Association Malaysia (REHDA) president Ng Seing Liong said the association was considering doing away with the price control mechanism to ensure sufficient supply of consumer goods in the market.

-- BERNAMA

# posted by share n care @ 8:53 AM